Kolkata: An unprecedented surge in travel demand this winter is pushing up air fares and hotel tariffs to record levels. With demand increasing month-on-month as more people become confident to travel, the travel trade industry expects the surge to persist beyond the conventional holiday season.
Tour operator Thomas Cook India senior vice-president (leisure travel) Romil Pant said domestic travel in September 2021 was up four-fold against September 2019 and was growing at a frantic pace.
“Prior to the pandemic, 85% of the business revenue was from outbound and the rest was from domestic travel. But with many international destinations, including popular ones like Thailand in South-East Asia still closed to Indian travellers, the revenue pie from domestic travel has increased to 40%. In terms of travellers, 60% are in the domestic sector.
